FAQ Studying

If you want to study at a university in Germany, you must have health insurance. This also applies to students from non-EU countries. As a rule, however, it is sufficient that you have health insurance in your country of origin. Then you can present your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when you register at the university (matriculation). Information on the EHIC is available here.

You can use this link to find out more about health insurance for students and find out in which cases it makes sense, for example, to take out additional health insurance. In addition to German, the information is available in the following EU languages:

The website study-in.de provides information in German and English on living and studying in Germany. There is a blog on the website in which students from abroad tell their experiences in Germany and give personal tips.

Go to the following link that takes you to the Facebook page Study in Germany.

DAAD is also on Twitter - @DAAD_Germany.

Anyone who is in Germany for short-term study courses during the semester holidays or who would like to find out more about the programmes of the summer academies can use the DAAD database for language and specialist courses.

EU citizens must have a school leaving certificate that entitles them to study a degree in their home country. Students from the EU do not need a residence permit or a visa.

Since registration is mandatory in Germany, students who are staying in Germany for more than three months to study must register with the Registration office in their city upon arrival.

You also have to prove that you have health insurance.

As a rule, EU citizens also need a good knowledge of the German language. This is based on the provisions of the European Framework of Reference for Language.

For international bachelor, master and doctoral programmes offered at German universities, English is usually the language of instruction. However, it also applies here that a good knowledge of German makes everyday life in Germany much easier.

Prospective students have the opportunity to prove their knowledge of German by 

1. Taking the language test for university admission for foreign students (DSH), which is offered at universities.

2. Providing proof of the “German as a foreign language test” (TestDaF). Details and information regarding the test centres in Germany and abroad can be found on the TestDaF website.

For citizens of the EEA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, the same regulations apply as for EU citizens. 

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Deutschland e.V. is an association of local student Erasmus initiatives. The volunteer members of the currently 37 sections look after around 11,000 exchange students annually. Internationally, the ESN is available at over 520 universities in over 40 countries.

The website “Study offers in Germany “ of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) gives an overview of which courses there are in Germany and where you can complete which courses.

Every student applicant from the EU must apply for admission to study. This applies to new students, graduates and doctoral students. During the admission process, it is checked whether an applicant fulfils the necessary requirements to study.

How the application process is and where you have to apply to study at a German university depends on the subject in which you want to start your studies and the degree you are aiming for.

Detailed information on the subject of admission, admission restrictions and the application process for studying in Germany is available in English on the DAAD website.

If you have found a university and would like to take advantage of personal advice on site, then you can contact the International student registry of the university. You can find the Student advice centres on the Hochschulkompass (Higher education compass) website.

The website study-in.de provides information in German and English on living and studying in Germany. There is a blog on the website in which students from abroad tell their experiences in Germany and give personal tips.